Woman pleads to three charges in 2012 case

A Redondo Road woman entered guilty pleas to three charges Wednesday, the day a trial was to begin for her role in a 2012 shooting.

Keiante Mackie, 20, entered guilty pleas before Judge John Durkin in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to charges of aggravated robbery and kidnapping, both first-degree felonies; and felonious assault, a second-degree felony.

In exchange for her guilty pleas, prosecutors agreed to drop a specification that a firearm was used to commit the crimes, and they also will adopt any favorable recommendation at sentencing that will come from an upcoming presentence investigation, said Assistant Prosecutor Meghan Brundege.

The first-degree felonies carry maximum penalties of 11 years in prison, while the felonious assault carries a maximum sentence of eight years in prison.

Judge Durkin said that although Ohio law says prison is presumed necessary for the crimes, because the firearm specification was dropped, Mackie could be sentenced to probation, should that be the recommendation of the presentence report.

A firearm specification calls for a mandatory prison term, but because it was dismissed, there are no mandatory prison sentences attached to the other sentences.

Mackie has no prior criminal record and has been free on bond. Her bond was continued Wednesday.

Mackie was arrested with Brandon Kennedy, 21, of Lexington Avenue, and Ishmael Bethel, 19, of Hudson Avenue, in a shooting Nov. 3, 2012.

Police were called to the 3000 block of Canfield Road, where they found a man with a bullet wound in his leg. The man told police he was at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles office when he received a call from a man to buy marijuana, and they agreed to meet at a Mahoning Avenue restaurant.

The man who was shot said a car pulled up to the restaurant and was driven by a woman with two men inside. Reports said both men were armed and wanted all of the victim’s “stuff.” When the victim said he did not have the marijuana with him, the men demanded all his money, but the victim told them that the money and drugs were at his house.

One of the armed men forced the victim back into his car and drove to the victim’s Canfield Road home followed by the car they drove to the restaurant.

The armed man holding the victim hostage, once at the house, turned to look at his accomplices in the other car, and the victim attempted to run away.

The armed man fired three shots at the victim, hitting him once in the upper thigh.

A chase followed before officers were able to catch the suspects.

Kennedy pleaded guilty to his role in the crime and was sentenced to four years in prison in September 2013.

Bethel also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years in prison last October.